Loading and unloading device



May 5, 1931. B. A. MOORE LOADING AND UNLO ADING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20.1930 I FIG. 1.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A I E m 51-- Q5 0 a=- 2/.- m... I 55132-55553; w F r Iha i I Q3223; h

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR,

dHHHIHmum-ml I I I May 5, 1931'. B. A. MOORE 1,304,266

LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Bruce A-Mmnr E ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 5, 1931 NETE STATES BRUCE A. MOORE, OF BLAWNOX,PENNSYLVANIA LOADING AND UNLOADING DEVICE Application filed February 20,1930. Serial No. 429,991.

' This invention relates to improvements in loading and unloadingdevices.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of an improvedloading and t unlodaing device, particularly well adapted to be used forthe efficient and expeditious loading and unloading of box cars of theside entrance type, so that heavy articles of merchandise may be placedor removed with T0 facility with respect to the box car at the sides andremote ends thereof.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedtransfer mechanism, comprising a beam arrangement. which may be movablysupported as by a derrick or crane of approved type, and of a nature tobe entered and withdrawn with facility with respect to the compartmentof an ordinary railway box car for the purpose of loading or unloadingthe same, even along the side walls at the remote ends of the car.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improvedtransfer apparatus of horizontally elongated hook-beam forma- N tionwhich is so related with respect to its support and its load supportinglocation that it will maintain a balanced position in unloaded or loadedcondition.

ther objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following detailed .description.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration are shownpreferred and modified forms of the invention,

Figure 1 shows a preferred form of the improved transfer machanism,showing it in a load supporting relation for the loading of a largeobject in an end adjacent a side of a box car.

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the loading relation of the improveddevice with respect to a boX car.

Figure 3' is an elevation of the improved loading and unloading device,partly in section.

Figure 4 is an end view of the improved device shown in Figures 1 to 3inclusive.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view takcn substantially on the line5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of loading and unloadingdevice.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the device of Figure 6, showing the closestrelation which the same may assume with respect to a box car for theloading of a commodity in an end adjacent a side wall of the car.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A maydesignate the preferred form of invention, and B a modified formthereof.

The preferred transfer mechanism A preferably comprises a substantiallyU-shaped beam structure 10, comprising upper and lower beams 11 and 12respectively, connected at similar ends by means of a curved bightportion 13. The arms 11 and 12 are relatively thin, and may be of across section which tapers slightly from the bight portion 13 to thefree ends thereof. The arcuated or curved portion 13 is transverselyoffset in arcuated relation from the plane in which the arms 11 and 12lie, defining a recess 13 therein, within which the roof portion of thecar and the upper side wall at the opening 1 1 of the car may bereceived, in order to position the arms 11 and 12 parallel to theadjacent side wall of the car, to permit loading of articles in the carimmediately adjacent the side wall, and as is shown in Figures 1 and 2of the drawings.

The arms 11 and 12 are preferably of the same length, sufficient thatwhen the arm 12 is inserted in the opening or doorway 14 of the car, thesaid arm may be moved so that its free end will lie closely adjacent anend wall of the car, so as to remotely position articles of merchandiseor other commodities in the far end of the car, as will be apparent fromFigure 1; the width of the bight portion 13 being such that it may bemoved transversely across the door passageway, and it is to be notedthat the offset bight portion 13 is not only offset arcuately transverseto the plane in which the connecting beams 11 and 12 lie, but it isoffset arcuately in the direction longitudinally of the beams 11 and 12,as shown in Figures 1 and 3. The beams 11 and 12 may be ofI-cross-section to reduce the I e P' in a reducing relation weightthereof without sacrificing strength, although the connecting bightportion 13 is relatively heavy to withstand strains incident to supportof a load.

The beam 11 at the free end thereof is provided with an enlarged offset15 extending upwardly, and connected by webbing 16 to the free end ofsaid beam 11. Above the beam it is provided with a vertical slot 17constituting an eye adapted to receive the swivel hook 18 of cable 19;the latter being supported by a suitable crane or derrick mechanism, ina relation which will be apparent.

The beams 11 and 12 are of the same length, and the free end of thelower beam 12 is provided with a depending hook 21, of

' J-shaped formation, rotatably mounted upon a suitable shank 22arranged normal to the free end of the beam 12. The supporting point ofthe hook 21 is axially aligned with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe I or slot 17 so that the supporting points of the beams 11 and 12are in direct vertical line with the improved device A. horizontally po-J sitioned in its normal balanced position. In

other words, a straight line drawn through the longitudinal axis of theslot 1? and intersecting the load point of the hook 21 is normal to thelongitudinal axis of the device A between the beams 11 and 12 thereof.

A counterweight 25 is fixedly bolted or otherwise rigidly connected tothe free end of the beam 11 at the opposite side of the eye 17 thereoffrom the beam. To accongplish this, the beam 11 adpacent the eye 11, butat the opposite side of the same from the beam 11 is provided with acounterweight supporting structure consisting of a vertical plate-likeextension 30, shown in 1 igure 5, arranged axially of the beam or arm11, having at opposite sides thereof right angled retaining flanges 31at the end thereof adjacent the eye 17, and spaced therefrom having theright angled flanges 32 paralleling the flanges 31 and spaced therefrom.The counterweight 25 is of elongated formation, and in one end thereofopening upon the bottom thereof it is provided with an I-shaped slot 36which terminates short of the top surface thereof, and is adapted toreceive counterweight supporting portions and of the beam 11 therein, asshown in Figure 5; the end surface 38 of the counterweight 25 thenresting in contact against the inner surfaces of the flanges 31. Thebottom flanges 41 are horizontally integral with the lower ends of theflanges 31 and adjacent web 30, and directly support an end of theweight 25 thereon. This supports the counterweight 25 horizontally atthe opposite side of the slot 17 from the beam 11, at an elevationslightly above the beam 11; the same being of a fixed weight sufficientto counterbalance the dead weight of the beams 11 and 12 and connectingportion 13 with the load disconnectec when the eye 17 receives theswivel 18 for supporting the structure A in the relation intended. Thus,the transfer device A is balanced so that the beams 11 and 12 willassume their horizontal and true position in a vertical plane, with thebeam 12 immediately vertically below the beam 11. The device is not onlybalanced as to the support of the dead weight thereof, but inasmuch asthe suspension means including the swivel 18 is connected at a locationin vertical alignment with the suspension point of the hook 21, thedevice will be balanced when a load, such as shown in Figure 1 of thedrawing, is supported properly by the hook 21, preferably also balancedat the initial placement thereon.

It is to be noted from Figure 2 of the drawings that the bight portion13 being offsetto one side of the vertical plane in which the arms 11and 1.2 lie would ordinarily twist the U-shaped supporting structure ofthe device A so that the beam 11 would lie in a plane with the arm 11,off the vertical. T 0 prevent this, the counterweight 25 is offset, asto the center of gravity thereof, to the opposite side of the plane inwhich the arms 11 and 12 lie, with respect to the offset 13, so that thestructure will maintain the balanced relation intended, to permit faciletransfer of loads, to load or unload the car or other structure aboutwhich work is being performed. It is readily apparent from Figures 1 and2 with what facility the device A is arranged with re ect toconventional box car construction, for the purpose of compactly loadingor un loading commodities or other articles with respect to thecompartment of the car. Thus. as shown in Figure 2, the arm 12 may beentered into the car paralleling a side wall of the car, close at theinside thereof, for the purpose of loading or unloading an article 15 inclose proximity not only to the side wall, but to the end wall of thecar. Using the device A, which has an offset 13 such as shown, enablesthe loading of one end of the car from one side of the car, and theother end of the car may be loaded from the opposite side of the car. Itis within the contemplation of the invention to provide a bight portion13 having oppositely facing concavities, such as 13", and centralizingthe upper and lower beams with respect thereto, so that a single suchdevice may be employed to load both ends of the car in close proximityto the same adjacent side wall from one side of a car.

Referring to the form of invention B, as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of thedrawings, the same is of somewhat the same nature as the device A abovedescribed, and similar structure has been given similar referencecharacters in both forms of the invention. In the main, the samecomprises a horizontally positioned U-shaped supporting hook eos-,eee 3structure 10 consisting of upper and lower beams 11 and 12 and a curvedbight portion 13. The portions 11, 12 and 13 are all relatively thin,and all he in the same plane, normally a vertical plane, inasmuch as thedevice B is a balanced structure. The beams or arms 11 and 1.2" areordinarily longer than the similar beams 11 and 12 provided in thetransfer device A, inasmuch as the additional length will permit thefree end of the lower beam 12 to be swung closer to the inside of theadjacent side wall of the car, when loading the car at an end, by reasonof taking advantage of the full width of the doorway 14, as can bereadily understood from Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The

I structure at the free end of the upper beam 11 for receiving the cable19 and swivel hook 18, is the same as for the beam 11, and acounterweight is supported in the same relation as the counterweight 25of the preferred form of invention A, except that the counterweight 25has the longitudinal center line thereof aligning in the same plane asthat in which the beams 11 and 12 lie, to balance the counterweight atthe opposite sides of such plane. Of course, the counterweight 25balances the weight of the beams 11 and 12 and connecting portion 13,when the device B is supported at the eye 17 thereof upon the swivelhook 18. The hook 21 of the free end of the beam 12 has its load pointvertically aligned with the eye 17 in a line which is normal to thelongitudinal axis of the device B between the beams 11 and 12 in orderthat a load may be carried and maintain the balance of the device B tofacilitate loading or unloadin The device consisting of the upper andlower beams and the bight portion may be appropriately referred to as ayoke, and as before mentioned the yoke is shorter for the form ofinvention A than for the form of invention B, for reasons described. Thestructure may be made of steel, or may be built up, or forged, or formedin any approved durable relation. \Vhile the counterbalance portions aredetachable, they are rigid and affixed with respect to the beams towhich they are attached, and are not adjustable thereon. The spacebet-ween the arms or beams of the yoke is sufficient that the loadsupporting arm may be lowered to the floor of the car for receiving ordislodging the load, without the upper arm or beam contacting the roofof thecar. If desired, safety gongs may be located upon the beams toprevent the placement thereof insuch relation, that they might injurethe car.

It is to be particularly noted that the devices A and B are relativelynarrow so. far as the plane in which the beams lie is concerned. In theconstruction of upper and lower beams of substantially the same length,and locating the supporting point of the beams at the free ends thereofin the relation described, makes it possible to centralize a load withrespect to a supporting cable to maintain the device in a balanced andproper relation to facilitate the handling thereof. It is to beparticularly noted that the supporting hook of the lower beam is locatedbelow the lower beam, which is one of the most essential and practicalfeatures of the invention.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be madeto the forms of invention herein shown and described, without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a load transfer device the combination of upper and lower spacedbeams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in whichsaid beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connectingmeans having a recess therein facing the plane in which said beams lieand open to the space between said beams.

2. In a load transfer device the combination of upper and lower spacedbeams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in whichsaid beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connectingmeans having a recess therein facing the plane in which said beams lieand open to the space between said beams, means for supporting the upperbeam from thereabove, and load supporting means carried by the lowerbeam.

In a load transfer device the combination of upper and lower spacedbeams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane in whichsaid beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, said connectingmeans having a recess therein facing the' plane in which said beams lieand open to the space between said beams, means for supporting the upperbeam from thereabove, load supporting means carried by the lower beam independing relation therefrom.

i. In a load transmitting device the combination of upper and lowerspaced beams having a connecting bight portion offset from the plane inwhich said beams lie transversely to one side of said plane, saidconnecting means having a recess therein facing the plane in which saidbeams lie and open to the space between said beams, means for supportingthe upper beam from thereabo-ve, load supporting means carried by thelower beam in depending relation therefrom, and counterweight meansattached to the upper beam at the opposite side of the connection of thesupporting means of the upper beam w'th respect to the major length ofsaid upper beam and of a sufficient weight to balance the upper andlower beams and connecting means with the upper and lower beams lying insubstantially a vertical plane with or Without load attachment upon thelower beam.

In a loading and unloading device of the class described the combinationof upper and lower beams being connected in spaced rigid relation atsimilar ends thereof with the opposite ends unobstructed as an entranceto the space therebetween, means for sup porting the upper beam fromthereabove, and a load supporting hook carried by the lower beam independing relation therefrom.

BRUCE A. MOORE.

